January Pinterest Challenge by the Pin chicks

Hi,
This is the first challenge of the year and I may be the only one posting illness has depleted us,  we have also lost one of our members for a year Mushaan has decided to take a year out,  but we may have some new members joining.  If anyone would like to join us you will be very welcome.
This month I decided that I would try some knitting this little bag is called Sundance Make up Bag by Classic Elite Yarns,  the pattern I found a challenge more the way it was written more than anything,  but I got there in the end,  below is the piece laid out when knitted,  above is the finished bag and to your right is the back view.

I did not like the decorative gusset as they called it,  so I knitted another bag without the gusset and I think it looks better,  

The picture below shows the finished knitted piece without the gusset and the back view of the bag

The handle I knitted slightly different to the pattern I used the three stitches as in the pattern but I only knitted enough for the handle and then sewd the two ends together making a ring rather than in the pattern a long strip and tried with a knot.
I have lined the bag inside (a) so it wont stretch and (b) to keep its shape better.
I used a glittery wool which has not shown up much but the glitter is there its called Baby Twinkle double knitting wool by James C Brett Limited.
This Pinterest challenge was a challenge in as much working out the pattern but I do like the outcome of the bag.
At this point I usually say do pop over and see the over ladies,  here's is a link to  Carollyn's blog but not much point giving you any others I may be the only one this month.
As from January this year our challenges are now every two months so the next posting will be on the 31st March.  Hopefully everyone will be back on track and well.
                               Hugs
                            Margaret

CD Sunday challenge - Do what you Love

Hi,
Another fortnight and a new challenge this time the theme was chosen by Pamela  Do what you love.  
Well I am sure many followers to this blog will know I love and have a passion for Orchids,  so its no surprise that I have done a card with orchids I used the backing paper from Joanna Sheens Cd The royal Horticultural Society CD,  the green mat is a Darice embossing folder called Jungle Foliage which I added some glitter to.  The Orchid die is from the Joanna Sheens Signature range which Vernon brought me some for christmas.  I finished off the card with a flourish and glitter pink ribbon which has not shown up in the photo very well.

I hope you will not only visit the CD Sunday Challenge site, remember if you want to enter the challenge you must use something from a CD no matter how small and let us know which CD you used.   Here is a link to the CD Sunday Challenge blog,   we would be pleased to see you.
Have a lovely week
                                     Hugs
                                 Margaret

Happy Chinese New Year

Happy Chinese New Year

to all my followers and friends

around the world

3,200 Years in one Photo

Hi,

I received this by email from a friend, and I thought it was a great story, I am always looking for something different to put on my blog so I hope you enjoy this.  Its taken me five goes to get blogger to print the words,  oh yes the pictures came out but the words no way,  anyway I hope this time its going to work and print it all.  

Amazingly awesome to think of the life of this tree! 

Thank God no loggers took it down.

Nor forest fires, nor earthquakes.  Just a quite life in a

California forest for all these years.

3200 Years in One Photo

Not every tree has a nickname,  but "The President" has

earned it.

This giant sequoia stands at 247 feet tall and is estimated 

to be over 3,200 years

Old. Image, this tree was already 1200 years old when

Jesus walked the earth.

The trunk of the President measures at 27 feet across

with 2 Billion needles

From base to top

Because of its unbelievable size,  this tree has never been

photographed in its

Entirety, until now.  National Geographic photographers

have worked along with

Scientists to try and create the first photo thats shows the

President in all its glory.

They had to climb the tree with pulleys and levers,  and 

took thousands of Photos.

Of those,  they selected 126 stitched them together,

To get this portrait of the President.

and here it is

The man standing at the bottom near the trunk is a good indicator of the trees size

Incredible, isn't it?

Hugs

Margaret

CD Sunday Challenge - Make it Male

Hi,                                                                                                                      This week on the CD Sunday Challenge blog we have a new challenge - Make it Male and yes I know what you are thinking like all crafters we say that making cards for men is the hardest cards to make.                                  So I used La Pashe CD Gnomes and Fairies too,   I used the backing paper and 3d the image of a Gnome playing cricket.  I added some green flourishes and leaves in various shades of green to the top to make it look as if hes in a clearing of the forest,  I also added a Happy birthday sentiment from the CD to the bottom of the card.

I am sure any male interested of plays cricket would like this card.

I hope you will not only visit the CD Sunday Challenge site,  remember if you want to enter the challenge you must use something from a CD no matter how small and let us know which CD you used.  Here is a link to CD Sunday Challenge blog  we would be pleased to see you.

I hope you are having a lovely weekend

                               Hugs

                           Margaret

Tatted Ice Drops

 Hi,

Something new in Tatting these are called Ice Drops,  The crazy was started by Diane,  and its taken on big time,  
The tatting is around glass nuggets,  the white one was my first and its not perfect, I had trouble getting some smaller glass nuggets as they are called in the UK,   |But as I learnt the pattern I managed to make more rings and enclose a bigger glass nugget.




So this is my bigger one this time I used  Lizbeth thread Springtime No 20,  the glass nugget is clear but is taking on the colour of the thread.   I tatted a chain to hang them both,  nothing fancy just a plain chain this time,   The little rings off the chain are 3-3-3-3, Hoping to make many more so watch this space as they say.



Hope you are not too snowed in,   we woke up to a covering of snow this morning but the sun did melt it,   hopefully thats the white stuff over and done with this winter.
Have a nice weekend
                                    Hugs
                                 Margaret

Pinterest challenge Tatted Dress August 2015

Hi,

I have been asked many times for the pattern for this tatted dress,  which I did back in August 2015 so at long last I have posted the pattern on my pattern blog Link,   It's a free pattern so I hope anyone who wants to tat it will enjoy the pattern.
 I am hoping to get rid of this flu bug that just won't go,   I do have some new things coming up  in the future, so in the meantime I hope you had a lovely new year.
                                          Hugs
                                       Margaret

CD Sunday Challenge - Something New

Hi,
Firstly Happy New Year,  this is the first challenge of the year and it was chosen by Pauline, and its something new.
For this challenge I have done a new Home card we have a friend moving in Australia (hopefully she wont see this post) in the New year.  I wanted to keep the card flat as possible so its not quite my usual card.
the image and backing paper are from Joanna Sheens The Pamela West Collection.  The image was matted onto blue card,  with white die cuts and a spray of Ivy die cut.   The flowers are glittery peel offs put on strong card and cut around to give them a bit of shaping before gluing them onto the card,  I finished off the card with a ribbon and bow with silver peel off wording.

I hope you will not only visit the CD Sunday Challenge site,  remember if you want to enter the challenge you must use something from a CD no matter how small and let us know which CD you used.  Here is a link to CD Sunday Challenge blog  we would be pleased to see you.

I hope you are having a lovely weekend

Until we meet again Take care

                                 Hugs

                             Margaret